Middle-Earth: Shadow of War will feature market and loot systems

As you fight and converse your way through Middle-Earth: Shadow of War and its far reaching Nemesis System, you’ll also want to keep your eye out for opportunities to earn new loot. That is, unique weapons, badass pieces of armor and new orc followers of differing rarity.

What adding such a loot system to this game means is that there will be microtransactions and a related marketplace. Don’t worry, though, because you won’t be required to pay extra in order to get the full experience, though the option will always be there.

Simply put, “No content in the game is gated by Gold. All content can be acquired naturally through normal gameplay.”

Through progression, and by going off the beaten path, players will earn what is called Mirian. A form of currency, it is earned by:

Defeating Treasure Orcs
Destroying Gear for Mirian
Destroying Orc followers for Gear (which can be destroyed for Mirian)
Finding Mirian stashes throughout the game

Gold, on the other hand, is the game’s second form of currency and is the one that you’ll be able to purchase for real money. That said, it won’t only be available to those who pay to win, because it can also be earned through good showings during community events or by achieving specific in-game milestones. What, exactly, those milestones are has yet to be revealed, however.

All of the above can be spent to improve your personal armory and better those who follow you, through the purchase of:

Loot Chests contain Gear (weapons and armor) of varying rarity. Equipping and upgrading these weapons and armor enhance Talion’s character abilities. Loot Chests can also contain XP boosts that help level up Talion faster.
War Chests provide Orc followers of varying rarity to help forge a strong army. They can also contain Training Orders to level up and customize Orc followers.
XP Boosts are consumables that help level up Talion faster.
Bundles package up Loot Chests, War Chests and Boosts together at a great value.